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Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.
Job Description
Job Summary:
The Harvard Forest invites applications for a full-time term Research Assistant in measurements of forest and wetland carbon cycling within Jackie Matthes’s Lab at Harvard Forest. Research in the Matthes Lab focuses on measuring soils, streams, and trees to characterize the processes that produce and release carbon dioxide and methane and influence the cycling of carbon and other nutrients. More information about the Matthes Lab can be found here.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
The Research Assistant will be based at the Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA. Work within a week will generally be partitioned among 2-3 days of fieldwork and labwork and 2-3 days of data analysis. Fieldwork at Harvard Forest involves working full days (up to 8 hours) in year-round outdoor conditions. The work conducted by this Research Assistant will require regular periods of independence.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to
- Coordination and collection of field data from soils, trees, and streams in long-term measurement plots.
- Organization of collected data and written documentation of metadata and protocols.
- Conducting timely data analysis with ongoing data collection and merging project data with other associated Harvard Forest data streams (e.g., weather data, streamflow data).
- Clear communication and coordination with other employees and the supervisor across all responsibilities.
Working Conditions:
Fieldwork at Harvard Forest involves working full days (up to 8 hours) in year-round outdoor conditions such as dry and frigid temperatures in the winter months and heat and humidity in the summer months.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- Previous experience working outdoors for full days
- Previous experience with data entry and graphing with spreadsheet software such as excel
- Some prior coursework at any level in environmental science, ecology, or related fields.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
A master’s degree in environmental science or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of experience working in environmental sciences
Strong communication and organizational skills;
Previous experience in scientific writing and the production of data-based figures to summarize and communicate key results.
Previous experience collecting, categorizing, and storing physical samples and digital data
Strong Proficiency in creating reproducible data analysis workflows with R
- Experience doing quality checking and quality assurance for digital data entry
Additional Information
- Appointment End Date: This is a 10-month grant-funded term position, with a possibility of renewal depending on continued funding and performance. The initial appointment will end 10-months from the starting date.
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
- Other Information:
- All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.
- Harvard Forest maintains a set of housing options nearby the site in Petersham, MA that the Research Assistant may choose to rent for short-term or longer term housing.
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Work Format Details
This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 052. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Generous paid time off including parental leave
- Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
- Retirement plans with university contributions
- Wellbeing and mental health resources
- Support for families and caregivers
- Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
- Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.